Run Luau Run

So Lord only knows if this is going to work or even if people are going to like it, but here goes…

I would like to introduce you to the $10 Meals Series – hopefully an ongoing weekly series here at Run Luau Run.  For the premiere of the series, I am going with an old standby in our household, Grandpa Bill’s Tuna Noodle Casserole…honestly, Grandpa Bill’s Casserole isn’t that different from anyone else’s.  In fact, last night I received an email from one of my readers, Tristen, who offered up a very similar recipe.  Tristen adds a 1/2 cup of milk to the recipe.

Is it healthful?  Relatively speaking, yes.  Here are the vitals:

Ingredients:

TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE

2 Cans of Tuna – drained $2.50
1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.75
1 Box Quinoa Garden Pagoda Pasta – $2.99
8 oz Frozen Peas – $0.50
TOTAL: $6.74 (In the Youtube video below I misread the price on the soup at $1.33 when in fact it was 75¢.)

SALAD

1 Head Romaine Lettuce – $0.67
1/3 Package of Cherub Tomatoes – halved – $1.33
Handful of Kalamata Olives – halved – $1.00
TOTAL: $3.00

GRAND TOTAL: $9.74

The directions are pretty simple.

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F
2. Boil Pasta for 7 – 8 minutes depending on desired tenderness.
3. Drain pasta, place back in pot and mix with tuna, cream of mushroom soup and peas.
4. Spread in a casserole dish, cover with foil, bake for 30 minutes.5. Uncover casserole and bake for an addition 15 minutes or until top is at desire crispiness.
6. Take out of oven and let sit for 5 minutes to set.

While all of this is happening, chop of romaine head and toss with tomatoes and olives.  Dress with a little olive oil and sea salt and you are good to go.

The nutritional information on the casserole:

8 Servings total.
Per Serving:
170 calories
2.5 grams of fat
30 grams of carbohydrates
3 grams of fiber
7 grams of protein
379 mg of sodium
Iron 7% RDI

Let me know what you think.